Safety of adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy

Toxicity of extended adjuvant endocrine with aromatase inhibitors in patients with postmenopausal breast cancer: A Systemtic review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Extended endocrine therapy (EET) with aromatase inhibitors (AIs) therapy can further reduce the risk of recurrence in breast cancer patients. But the conclusion that whether EET with AIs increases the risk of some side effects compared with nonextended endocrine therapy (NEET) is still controversial and not exhaustive.

METHODS

We searched for Randomized controlled trials (RCT) trials published in EMBASE and PubMed between March 2008 and December 2019. Studies comparing the side effects of adjuvant EET with those of NEET were included. The objective was to determine whether EET with AIs increases the risk of side effects compared with NEET.

RESULTS

Overall, 11 trials comprising 24,187 participants were identified. EET with AIs increased the risk of cardiotoxicity [odds ratio (OR) 1.19, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.36; P < 0.05; 438 vs 423], bone pain (OR 1.18, 95 % CI 1.02-1.36; P < 0.05; 446 vs 404), osteoporosis (OR 1.53, 95 % CI 1.35-1.72; P < 0.05; 866 vs 641), fractures (OR 1.33, 95 % CI 1.18-1.50; P < 0.05; 596 vs 438), arthralgia (OR 1.27, 95 % CI 1.19-1.36; P < 0.05; 2404 vs 2060), myalgia (OR 1.29, 95 % CI 1.16-1.43; P < 0.05; 960 vs 776), and hot flashes (OR 1.40, 95 % CI 1.15-1.69; P < 0.05; 2418 vs 2174) and was associated with opposite risk of vaginal bleeding (OR 0.74, 95 % CI 0.59-0.92; P < 0.05; 148 vs 197). However, the extended therapy did not increase the risk of hypertension (OR 1.03, 95 % CI 0.80-1.33; P = 0.80; 364 vs 353), hypercholesterolemia (OR 1.03, 95 % CI 0.91-1.16; P = 0.62; 643 vs 627), vaginal dryness (OR 1.19, 95 % CI 1.00-1.42; P = 0.05; 294 vs 257), fatigue (OR 1.20, 95 % CI 0.96-1.50; P = 0.12; 1501 vs 1462), dizziness (OR 1.04, 95 % CI 0.92-1.17; P = 0.55; 614 vs 595), headaches (OR 1.06, 95 % CI 0.95-1.18; P = 0.30; 885 vs 848), constipation (OR 0.91, 95 % CI 0.79-1.04; P = 0.15; 480 vs 522), nausea (OR 1.83, 95 % CI 0.49-6.83; P =0.37; 340 vs 325), and dyspnea (OR 0.96, 95 % CI 0.82-1.13; P = 0.64; 340 vs 351). The risk of grade ≥ 3 hot flashes increased following extended endocrine therapy (OR 2.01, 95 % CI 1.23-3.29; P < 0.05; 47 vs 23). We observed no evidence for a difference in the risk of grade ≥3 fatigue, arthralgia, myalgia, bone pain, osteoporosis, fractures, hypertension, and headache between both endocrine therapies. Secondary outcomes shows that after receive EET with AIs, patients can benefit from the control of the local recurrence, distant recurrence, contralateral breast cancer, and second cancers.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with NEET, EET with AIs significantly increased the risk of cardiotoxicity, bone pain, osteoporosis, fractures, hot flashes, arthralgia, myalgia, and grade ≥3 hot flashes, and EET with AIs can reduced the risks of local recurrence, distant recurrence, contralateral breast cancer, and second cancers. These findings offer an important guide for clinicians and patients.

Comparison of Changes in the Lipid Profiles of Eastern Chinese Postmenopausal Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer Treated With Different Aromatase Inhibitors: A Retrospective Study

Cardiovascular morbidity is closely associated with serum lipid level. We aimed to investigate the effects of different aromatase inhibitors, including letrozole, anastrozole, and exemestane, on the lipid profile of eastern Chinese breast cancer patients. We evaluated a retrospective cohort of eastern Chinese postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer who received aromatase inhibitors. A total of 116 postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer without prior cardiovascular disease were included. Lipid changes at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months were compared across the endocrine therapy categories. Our data demonstrated that exemestane treatment significantly decreased triglyceride level compared with letrozole after 24 months. However, the aromatase inhibitors had almost equivalent impacts on high-density liportein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride after long-term aromatase inhibitor treatment. As a small-size retrospective study, our data do not support a judgment about whether one AI or another carries more or less risk in terms of lipid disorders in eastern Chinese breast cancer patients. The exact effects need further randomized, controlled trials to investigate.

Adverse effects of endocrine therapy in breast cancer: single institute experience

AIM OF THE STUDY

The main purpose of this study is to assess the known adverse effects of adjuvant endocrine therapy for non-metastatic breast cancer patients and to present our single center experience with light of literature.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant radiotherapy in Medical School of Ege University between January 2007 and December 2009 were evaluated for this trial after obtaining their acceptance. Vital findings, bone mineral densitometry, endometrium thickness measured with trans-vaginal ultrasonography, biochemical results including liver function tests and blood lipid profile (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL, triglyceride) were recorded for each controls. Socio-demographic data, financial statuses, medical history, co-morbid diseases were obtained from first controls. Patients were followed without any local recurrence and distant metastases until June 2011.

RESULTS

Endometrium thickness was not seen in AI using patients. As compared with tamoxifen group, lack of thickness in AI group was statistically significant (p = 0.000). When compared the values before AI, the number of patients who had osteoporosis was gradually increasing. The decrease was seen in the number of patients with osteopenia. The number of patients with normal lipid profile was gradually increasing up to the second evaluation for tamoxifen group (p = 0.000). On the other hand, the number of patients with hyperlipidemia was increasing for AIs group in follow-up period statistically (p = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

With the aid of careful patient follow and effective disease management strategies, the negative effect over the QoL can be minimized and also the greatest benefit from endocrine therapy can be obtained.

Aromatase inhibitors in breast cancer

Estrogens play important roles in breast cancer development and progression. In postmenopausal women, traditional endocrine therapies such as tamoxifen have sought to inhibit estrogen action by targeting the estrogen receptor itself. However, newer treatments are evolving that target estrogen production in postmenopausal tissues through inhibition of the aromatase enzyme. Clinical data demonstrate that these aromatase inhibitors are superior to tamoxifen as adjuvant therapy for breast cancer and have now replaced tamoxifen as first line therapy in a number of treatment regimens for postmenopausal breast cancer patients.

Effects of third generation aromatase inhibitors on bone health and other safety parameters: results of an open, randomised, multi-centre study of letrozole, exemestane and anastrozole in healthy postmenopausal women

Given potential differences between the skeletal and other effects of the third generation aromatase inhibitors (AIs), we conducted an open, randomised Phase I study, comparing the effects of three licensed AIs on bone turnover markers, lipid profiles and adrenal function. Treatment comparisons were undertaken in 90 healthy postmenopausal women with normal bone mineral density who received once daily oral anastrozole (1mg, n=29), letrozole (2.5mg, n=29) or exemestane (25mg, n=32) for 24weeks with a subsequent 12week washout period. All three AIs induced increases in bone resorption markers, but no significant differences were observed in their effects on bone turnover markers. Greater differences were observed in lipid metabolism. Notably, exemestane, but not anastrozole or letrozole, significantly increased the LDL:HDL cholesterol ratio by 12weeks, largely mediated by a decrease in HDL-cholesterol. Further, long-term clinical studies are required to determine the impact, if any, of the differences observed between the AIs

Drug-induced arthritic and connective tissue disorders

OBJECTIVES

All pharmacologic agents have the potential for both benefit and toxicity. Among the more interesting and important adverse consequences of drug therapy are a range of joint and connective tissue complaints that may mimic or reproduce primary rheumatologic diseases. In this article, we review the literature on commonly used drugs reported to induce arthritis and/or connective tissue-based diseases. We assess the strength of the reported associations, discuss diagnostic features and treatment implications, and consider possible mechanisms for drug-induced genesis of rheumatic conditions.

METHODS

We reviewed the Medline database from 1987 to 2006 to identify drug-induced arthritic and connective-tissue disease syndromes, utilizing 48 search terms. A qualitative review was performed after the articles were abstracted and the relevant information was organized.

RESULTS

Three hundred fifty-seven articles of possible relevance were identified. Two hundred eleven publications were included in the final analysis (case series and reports, clinical trials, and reviews). Many drugs were identified as mimicking existing rheumatic conditions, including both well-established small molecules (eg, sulfasalazine) and recently introduced biologic agents (eg, antitumor necrosis factor agents). The most commonly reported drug-induced rheumatic conditions were lupus-like syndromes. Arthritis and vasculitis were also often reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Drug-induced rheumatic syndromes are manifold and offer the clinician an opportunity to define an illness that may remit with discontinuation of the offending agent. Early diagnosis and withdrawal of the drug may prevent unnecessary morbidity and disability.

Reducing the risk of distant metastases in breast cancer patients: Role of aromatase inhibitors

Breast cancer continues to be one of the most prominent causes of cancer death among women worldwide. Mortality in breast cancer is most commonly caused by the occurrence of distant metastases. Thus, treatments that reduce the risk of distant metastases are likely to improve survival. The third-generation aromatase inhibitors (AIs), including anastrozole, letrozole, and exemestane, have been investigated as alternatives to tamoxifen for the adjuvant treatment of early, endocrine-responsive breast cancer. Results from several large trials have established the superior efficacy of the AIs over tamoxifen in reducing the risk of recurrences when used as upfront, switch, and extended adjuvant therapy. Here, we review recent updated results obtained with AIs as adjuvant therapy, in terms of reducing the risk of distant metastases.

Aromatase inhibitors and cardiac toxicity: getting to the heart of the matter

Recent advances in breast cancer treatment include the advent of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) in the adjuvant setting with better efficacy and toxicity profiles than tamoxifen. However, AIs generally do not improve lipid profile as tamoxifen does, and there has been suggestion of increased cardiovascular risk with AI use. This has become an area of concern, particularly in light of the view that tamoxifen may protect against cardiovascular disease. This review of the current literature and updated trial data examines the effect both AIs and tamoxifen have on lipids and cardiovascular risk. It also highlights the importance of interpreting such data within the larger context of cardiovascular health in postmenopausal women.